Scott Minto makes sensational Bellingham to Arsenal claim, gives interesting Boehly/Potter theory & talks all things Ronaldo/Piers Morgan
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In an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes at the launch of the World Cup Free-To-Play Half-time Quiz, former footballer and now TV pundit Scott Minto discusses some of the topical issues including Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United, Jude Bellingham’s next club and Graham Potter at Chelsea.
Ten Hag will be punching the air in celebration… Ronaldo has done his work for him
There’s just no way he [Cristiano Ronaldo] can come back to the Manchester United training ground. Players will look at the manager in moments like this – and when a manager is being tested, it’s so important he makes the right decision next. This is one of the greatest players of all-time that we’re talking about here… but he’s not one of the greatest players right now. His form doesn’t justify him starting regularly for United.
While there is a bit of leeway with a name like Ronaldo, there is just absolutely no way he can play for Erik ten Hag again. If the manager talks about respect from his players, it just can’t happen, because the rest of his squad will be thinking ‘he did whatever he wanted with you, and he’s still playing’.
For Ten Hag, his stock has absolutely gone up in the last few days. I’m telling you now, he’ll be punching the air in celebration, because he’ll be really happy with how things have gone. Ronaldo has done his work for him; he doesn’t want him in the team, he’s been trying to manage the situation between the player and his own bosses, who will be thinking about the commercial gains of keeping Ronaldo. But he clearly doesn’t want Ronaldo around the place, so this is the best thing that could have happened for Ten Hag.
I think Cristiano is going to struggle to find a top-end Champions League club who’d go anywhere near the level of wages he’s currently on. He doesn’t need the money, but he’ll have to drop his wages significantly if he’s to sign for another club.
I covered La Liga football for four years, so I watched every single Lionel Messi game and every single Barcelona game and every single Ronaldo and Real Madrid game during that time in the league and the cup. He [Ronaldo] became a box player, a one or two-touch player. Even back then, I actually think he was a better footballer in that first stint at Manchester United. He realised in Spain that, to keep up with Messi, he needed to stay in-between the sticks, in the box, and let his teammates create chances for him.
I’ve got nothing but admiration for him and everything he’s done; I think he went four years on the spin watching Lionel Messi win the Ballon d’Or, but he bounced back and won many more afterwards. But for me, that’s it, he’s finished at United. He knew what he was doing.
Ronaldo’s interview won’t impact Portugal; it’s always been about him when it comes to the national side
I don’t think what’s happened with Cristiano Ronaldo will disrupt Portugal’s preparations for the World Cup too much, because things have always been about him when it comes to the national team; this isn’t new.
It’s really negative stuff, but he’d argue he’s doing exactly what he needs to do to engineer a move away. I still don’t know yet whether Bruno Fernandes and Joao Cancelo are happy or not; I need to send a couple of messages to friends of mine in the Portuguese press… but on the face of it, it looks as if they’re not.
I do a lot of work on the Portuguese league for BT, and so I speak to a lot of journalists out there. There was an issue before all of this, around whether or not Ronaldo should start for them, that he’s not quite the player he once was, and the team has to play a different way when he’s on the pitch. Fernando Santos is a very defensive coach, which, in one sense will suit Ronaldo because it means the team will be set up to counter-attack quickly.
But the players that Portugal have, and the talent they have… they need to be having the ball and playing a possession game. Are they happy with Ronaldo just staying up there, waiting for Ronaldo to get on the end of crosses? I’m really not sure. But there was already an issue surrounding Ronaldo and his place in Portugal’s starting line-up, so I don’t really see this latest news affecting decisions, to be honest.
You don’t actively go to a Piers Morgan for an interview like that…
I’ll wait until I’ve seen the interview in full, but I do think Cristiano [Ronaldo] has to be treated a little bit differently to other players because of what he has done in the game. He’s not the best of all-time in my opinion, but plenty would argue he is. And I do think that because of that, he has to be treated a bit differently.
The main crux is simple, and it comes down to what was said between Cristiano and Erik ten Hag at the beginning of the season, in the summer. If Ten Hag has told him to get fit after missing pre-season, with assurances of then playing him, and he hasn’t followed up on his word, then Cristiano’s going to take issue with that. But if the manager hasn’t said anything like that, then Ronaldo needs to take a reality check.
I get the feeling Ronaldo wanted to go in the summer, but couldn’t find a club who could match his wages. The big thing for me – regardless of whether you’ve been righted or wronged – is that you don’t actively go to a Piers Morgan and do an interview like that… he cannot play for Manchester United again. He cannot wear that shirt again.
Has it ruined his legacy? The record books will always show what he’s done for the club, but isn’t it a shame how things have gone? People should be loving Ronaldo and the fact he’s playing in England again – but now everyone’s going to be thinking ‘yeah, great player… but what about the person?’ And that’s a real shame.
Arsenal could go and get Jude Bellingham next summer… they’re close to being as attractive a proposition as Man City…
In terms of Jude Bellingham, do I think he’s going to come to the Premier League? Absolutely I do. I mean, up until the start of this season, everybody was saying he’s Liverpool’s player, because they were right up there with Manchester City. But I’m still wondering whether or not they’re going to make the top four – and if they’re out of the Champions League, I’m not so sure he’d be as keen to go there.
I’m not sure what his contract looks like, but there’s no doubt he’ll be playing in the Premier League… absolutely no doubt; he’s good enough to play a key role for the very best teams in the world. The very best team for me is Man City, but actually, the way Arsenal are playing at the moment… if they can finish in the top four, or better still, in second place, or even go on to win the title, then all of a sudden they become as attractive a proposition as City, just like that.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happening, if Arsenal are in the Champions League next season. When you look at what that team is all about under Mikel Arteta, and there’d be a need for them to strengthen if they’re playing on Europe’s biggest stage, why couldn’t they go and get a Bellingham?
Look, at the start of the season I had Arsenal finishing in fifth place, or around that area; I didn’t think they’d make the top four. But I’m constantly re-evaluating things as each hurdle has been passed. And I can tell you now, I genuinely think that if they finish in the top four, suddenly they become one of the most attractive teams in the world to join. If this is a team which is already fighting City for the title, after just a year of Arteta turning things around, that’s a team which ticks every box.
Todd Boehly’s LA Dodgers record suggests Graham Potter WILL get a lot of time with Chelsea
What you’d say is that with the history of Chelsea over the last two decades, and with what Todd Boehly did to Thomas Tuchel, you wouldn’t say Graham Potter has got the backing of the owner.
But if you actually look at what Boehly’s done with the LA Dodgers, he’s had the same coach since 2016, and he’s got a contract up until 2025. Now, I genuinely think he’s someone who – unless things go horribly wrong, which I don’t think they will – will give Graham Potter a lot of time. Especially when you look at the players he’s brought in, and the money he’s spent; what’s interesting to me is the length of the contracts he’s brought these players in on; he clearly sees a long-term vision for Chelsea, and I absolutely believe he wants Potter to be a part of it.
What you’ve got to remember is how quickly things can change in football; he played against RB Salzburg and put an end to their unbelievable run at home – he was seen as a genius for putting [Raheem] Sterling on one side, [Christian] Pulisic the other, he made the right substitutions, and everything worked out perfectly for him.
Then what does he do? He picks exactly the same side against Brighton, gets hammered, and now he’s lower than a snake’s belly. I was critical of that team selection against Brighton; I think after a European game, when you’re coming up against what’s essentially your ex, in a team like Brighton, who were always going to be up for it from start to finish, that was the wrong team to pick.
But just look at Mikel Arteta after three games last season. An international break was coming up, he’d just lost three on the spin in the league, and people were saying if he lost to Norwich he was a goner. Who knows how close he was to losing his job? That team in the aftermath of that Norwich game knew how much the win meant to Arteta, and one year on, fast-forward and look where Arsenal are now.
I think Potter needs time, and I think what Boehly’s done in America suggests he’ll be given time. I don’t mind the change of system sometimes, in fact I quite like that he changes things up. But I’m a great believer of keeping square pegs in square holes. If you’re going to change things, whether it’s system or personnel, still keep that player in a position where he’s most comfortable… and I don’t think he’s done that over the past couple of games.
When everybody’s fit, Potter’s got a great squad available to him; multiple options in every position. I think, for Chelsea’s point of view, it’s a great thing that the World Cup is here… it’s come at a really good time for them, not only because of their form, but because it means Reece James will miss fewer games – and I believe he’s their best player.
I think they’re strong in midfield, but I’m really interested to see whether they finally make a move for Declan Rice next summer. Look, the West Ham part of me wants him to stay with the club for his entire career, but he’s a Champions League player, and I think one of the big boys will come calling for him.
But there’s no doubt there’s one position which needs strengthening, and it’s up front. And while I can’t give you a name yet, you have to assume they’re going to spend big. The [Romelu] Lukaku thing didn’t quite work, but he’s still technically a Chelsea player. It’ll actually be interesting to see what Graham Potter does in the summer, and whether he wants to have a go with Lukaku himself. He’s tried and tested in the Premier League, I think he was still their top scorer last season, so that’s going to be a really interesting to see what Graham Potter does.
But if Lukaku isn’t the answer, they have to go big. To compete with the likes of Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, with Newcastle also getting better, and with Spurs also in the hands of Antonio Conte, they can’t afford to bring in – as Jose Mourinho would say – another Grade B egg.
We’re six games away from having a proper title race on our hands
With each hurdle and obstacle and question mark that’s put in front of Arsenal right now, they’re passing it with flying colours. The disappointing one, really, was probably Southampton. They were great in the first half but let things slip in the second half.
They were perhaps a little lucky against Leeds but they found a way to win the game. They were very good against Spurs, they nicked three points from Liverpool in a game which could have gone either way, but they still played very, very well. And then I was there at Stamford Bridge for the game against Chelsea and, honestly, I was so, so impressed.
Look, if you were to give me a fiver to back someone for the title now, I’d still be saying Man City. But is there a title race? I think I’d say there is. When I’d categorically answer that, it’d be six games after the World Cup. Both Arsenal and City have got some tricky fixtures in there… I think that’s when we can judge where teams really are.
I’m telling you now; even if Arsenal are level on points with City after the first six games after the World Cup, we have a proper title race on our hands. Half a dozen games, after the World Cup, is going to tell us a lot. At that point, players will be back in their stride… it’s game on.
